Malachi 3:16-18 – The Characteristics Of The Faithful

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAITHFUL

Malachi 3:16-18

INTRODUCTION

The world has often used certain popular phrases like:

1. Might makes right

2. The majority is right

NOTE: The popularity of polls. The only absolute is what the majority says. God’s righteous are rooted like a tree in the Word of God. The ungodly are not so. Psalm 1:4 describes the ungodly tossed about the wind.

In Malachi God’s word is directed toward those who claim to be His people. Basically they don’t want to be like the world. But many of them

don’t seem to have in themselves either the ability or the desire to do things God’s way.

They are so like King Saul. They know God has placed them where they are. They know what they should do. But the world keeps tripping them up. They try to serve God their way.

In every group of believers, as in Malachi’s day, there will be those who put a lot of effort into serving the Lord but blow it.

But in the background will be the quiet, faithful “seven thousand who have not bent their knee to Baal.” These are the ones we wish to direct our thoughts now.

THEME:THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAITHFUL ARE:

I. THEY FEAR THE LORD vs. 16

A. Fear

1. Not of terror or guilt but fear of a love that is always alive to the possible alienation of its object

2. Reverential love

B. Lord

NOTE: vs. 14 El cf. vs. 16 Jehovah

1. Personal relationship

2. Denotes fellowship

C. They spake often one to another

1. The more the ungodly spake among themselves against God, the more these faithful spake among themselves for God

2. In order to strengthen each other against the ungodly sayings of the ungodly

3. Jewish saying: “When two sit together, and there is no words of the Law spoken between them, there is the seat of the scorner.” cf. Psalm 1

NOTE: On the phone, make a point to tell of a blessing rather than gossip

D. The Lord hearkened and heard it

1. Hearkened – bent His ear from heaven

2. Heard–understood attentively

NOTE: Watch two people talk about us

E. A book of remembrance was written for them that fear and thought upon His name

1. A book of remembrance

NOTE: Kings had books written containing the good and evil deeds of their subjects toward the throne cf. II Kings 1:18

a. Esther 6:1

b. Psalm 56:8

c. Luke 10:17-20

d. Revelation 20:12

NOTE: Not one loyal word for Him and His glory escapes Him

2. Thought upon His name

NOTE: Thought – intense meaning

a. Esteemed or prized cf. 1:6 cf. Isaiah 53:3

b. The taking of an inventory of treasury

NOTE: Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. cf. the treasures of Malachi’s day

1. In their possessions

2. In their nationality

3. In their temple

c. The thinking on His name was with all care to avoid all things which may tend to the dishonor of it

THEME:THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAITHFUL

I. THEY FEAR THE LORD

II.THEY BELONG TO THE LORD vs. 17

A. They shall be mine when I make up my jewels (special treasure)

1. Prized

NOTE: Prize His name and He will prize you

2. Guarded – a possession of special value

NOTE: Many are called but few are choice

B. I will spare them

1. Not of their own merits

a.cf. Works of the Pharisee

b. Matthew. 21:28-31

2. Spare – in contrast to the punishment of the ungodly

3. As a man spareth his own son who serveth him

a. Psalm 103:13

NOTE: Pitieth means “to have mercy”

b. Manifest tender mercy to them as a father to an obedient son

THEME:THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAITHFUL ARE:

I. THEY FEAR THE LORD

II. THEY BELONG TO THE LORD

III. THEY CAN DISCERN vs. 18

NOTE: Return – when we turn from our sinful state and have the characteristics of the faithful, then we return to see in light of God’s Word

A. Between the righteous and the wicked

NOTE: Are they for God or against God (very simple)

1. The wheat and the tares

NOTE: They may look alike but the fruit of their actions give them away

2. Preoccupation with evil can only weaken the hand and distress the spirit. But occupation with Him who sits in peace above all the mists of the earth will strengthen and cheer, and prove the only real power for practical holiness and victory over all the might of the enemy

B. Between Him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not

1. The Lord put a difference between Israel and Egypt Exodus 11:7

2. The time will come when we shall see the difference Isaiah 65:13-14

CONCLUSION

The characteristics of the Faithful are not as a theory to boast to other people but rather is the power in which they live all their days.

Those who feared Him did it not as an attempt to make up what they lacked in character, but is an output of character.